How to Keep Your Feet Warm this Winter
When you are bundled up for outdoor winter weather yet your feet still feel cold, it can really affect your overall sense of comfort. You may even have cold feet when you’re indoors curled up on the sofa to watch television.
Why Are My Feet So Cold?
Your lower extremities can suffer during cold winter weather, and this is often due to an issue with blood circulation. When not enough oxygen and blood is being supplied to the cells in your body, poor circulation can result. Blocked or damaged blood vessels can restrict the flow of blood, especially to your feet, making them feel colder than the rest of your body.
Any number of possible reasons can point to the causes for poor circulation, among them being diabetes, Raynaud’s disease, vascular or nerve damage, thyroid conditions and hypothermia. Other reasons for those icy feet in winter can be a natural result of aging, thinning skin, or not wearing appropriate protection against frosty Atlanta weather conditions.
Ways To Keep Your Feet Warm
Don’t let cold feet prevent you from venturing out in winter to take a hike or engage in outdoor sports. There are a variety of ways to combat cold feet, but if you exhibit other symptoms, such as cramping calf pain, discolored skin, tingling and numbness, or a heightened sensitivity when your feet are touched, consider consulting with your physician or a medical specialist at American Foot and Leg Specialists.
Keep your feet warm by wearing the proper clothing.
Wear a lightweight sock that will keep your feet from sweating, then a light or medium weight wool sock or two over that. Choose wool socks over cotton ones. Change your socks if your feet begin to feel damp from sweat and rub a little foot powder on to keep sweat at bay.
Wear slippers over socks.
When relaxing at home, put on a pair of wool socks, then slip into comfortable slippers to keep feet warmer.
Warm water helps.
If your feet are especially cold, fill a basin or a foot-massaging bath with warm water. This will bring your temperature up and you’ll feel warmer almost immediately.
Stay active.
Sitting or standing for a period of time can make your feet feel cold. You’ll want to circulate your blood by getting up and walking around for a few minutes to get the blood flowing.
Rub your feet.
This is good for keeping your feet warm when under the covers at night. Take some lotion you’ve warmed between your palms and rub your feet for a minute or so to stimulate blood circulation. The warmth of your hands and the friction will help. Then put on a pair of warm socks.
Treat Any Underlying Conditions
If you suffer from feet that are always cold or have any other symptoms such as those described above, please make an appointment to consult with one of our physicians at American Foot and Leg Specialists. We treat a variety of chronic and acute conditions ranging from sports injuries to diabetes-related issues to treatments for hammertoe.
Here at American Foot and Leg Specialists, we serve the South Atlanta Metro area including the counties of Fulton, Cobb, Douglas, Fayette, Henry, and Clayton. We have four locations in Georgia that include offices in Fayetteville, Forest Park, Locust Grove, and Stockbridge.
The information in this article should not take the place of professional medical advice. Please call our staff at American Foot and Leg Specialists with any questions you have or to make an appointment with one of our physicians.
